Greetings and welcome to Poets on Display during National Poetry Month/Blogging From A to Z April Challenge. I’m doing a poetry theme, so each day this month I’ll be featuring poets from the book Sunrise Summits: A Poetry Anthology, which was recently selected as a finalist for the 2017 Colorado Book Awards in the anthology category (information about the awards can be found by Clicking Here).

It’s an honor for me to continue to share the work of those who contributed to Northern Colorado Writers first poetry anthology and to have this work selected as an award finalist. The poets included are a shining example of the talent found in Northern Colorado Writers, LLC.

The poem posted below is not from the anthology. This way you get a wider read of each poet’s work. It’s been a challenge to get the poems to fit the letter theme, but I think I’ve worked it out. I hope you enjoy what you read here.

Today’s letter:

Today’s Poem: The Z & G of Things by Zachary Gilbert

The Z & G of Things

(Zach)

…

Sharpened axe, flies,

swift and silent,

in the forest, then

in a quick moment,

“Zzz ahh kuh!”

echoes through living trees.

…

“Zzz aah kuh”, sounds rattle out,

a blown hum in a buzz,

tongue behind slightly open teeth,

“Zzzz”, swirling noise, born

in darkness of the throat.

An axe raised.

…

“Aah”, the sound of breathing out,

lungs deflate below an open mouth,

Not a sigh, but yet… a pinch

in the dry throat,

a dying breath,

without words.

The axe finds its,

speeding arc, head falling

fast toward its prey.

…

“Kuh!” the back of the tongue,

opening of throat pressed,

a gust of breath pops

loose, a “Kuh!”

The full name said,

the wood now split,

falls over green moss

…

The swung axe,

weeps tree sap,

a fresh gray gash,

sits silent, upon a yellowed

tree stump, spelling the name,

Zach.

…

…

(Green)

Green pine needles,

Sway, under a mountain breeze,

clouds weep life.

…

“Rape!” Earth cries.

Now naked, brown dirt

green clothes stolen.

…

Passport required,

to move near to, Earth’s lost,

greener grass.

Zachary’s Bio:

Zachary Gilbert is a Fort Collins born poet. He wooed his wife of 12 years with a fantastical 40 pages of rhymed verse, and silly cartoons. In the early 2000’s he aspired to be a 3D animator and was professionally trained in creative writing and character development. He graduated from Front Range Community College in 2012 with an Associate of Science degree. Now he lives in Loveland with his wife, three kids, and his dog Charlie. He loves to write whenever time allows. He blogs at zacharywgilbert.com

Note: On May 1, 2017 I’ll be drawing one winner to receive a copy of Sunrise Summits: A Poetry Anthology. Each day you visit and leave a comment, you’ll earn one entry for the drawing. (Only one entry per day can be earned, regardless of number of visits/comments) That’s a potential of 30 entries for the drawing! Winner to be announced on this blog on May 1, 2017.